Compartmentalized pallet packaging system for perishable products

ABSTRACT

A packaging system that is both efficient and cost effective, while still performing the necessary tasks at hand. The compartmentalized pallet cover extends the shipping life of fresh picked fruits and vegetables, lengthening the maximum shipping time and extending the maximum shipping distance within which fresh produce may be delivered. This shipping product and method makes it possible to realize higher profit margins by reaching markets which are located a significant distance from the point of origin, while minimizing shipping costs.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/437,852, filed on Jan. 31, 2011. The aforementionedUnited States Patent Application is incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of shipping and packaging ofperishable goods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the industry of fresh fruits and vegetables there is a balance thatmust be maintained between providing effective shipping practices andmaintaining the quality of the produce. Besides the invention of plasticand refrigeration, there has been very little innovation in shippingpractices for perishable goods in the past 100 years. However, therehave been many products which have aided in maintaining the quality ofproduce with preservation practices. Unfortunately, many of the productsand practices that enable fresh fruits and vegetables to have anextended shelf life as well as higher quality are often a hindrance tothe logistical timeline of bringing fresh product from the farms to theconsumer. These products address one major problem, which is ethyleneproduction by the produce, which in turn, causes ripening. This is anexponential process, in that once one piece of fruit begins to ripen andproduce ethylene it will cause all of the fruits or vegetables around itto begin the same process, since ethylene itself causes the productionof more ethylene. This is why produce is often separated from otherproduce, because there are some types of fruits and vegetables thatproduce more ethylene. This is also why damaged fruit is removed in thepackaging process, as damaged fruit immediately begins producingethylene and will trigger the produce around it to prematurely beginproducing ethylene.

Given the deficiencies in the prior art, the present invention isdirected to a product and process that addresses the problem of ethyleneproduction by individual pieces of produce while maintaining alogistical timeline of product packaging and shipment to the endconsumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The compartmentalizing of the pallet begins with the placement of asingle sheet of film on the shipping pallet which creates a bottom sealfor the entire structure. As boxes of produce are placed onto thepallet, an appropriately sized sheet of film is placed on top each boxor level so that there is a sheet of film between each level of boxes onthe pallet. Each level of boxes becomes an individual compartment whichis separated from the other boxes or compartments by the film placedbetween each layer. Once the packing of produce in boxes is complete, apallet cover is then placed over top of the entire structure whichincludes the pallet and each layer of boxes placed atop the pallet. Oncethe pallet cover film is placed over the boxes, the cover and layers offilm will be in close contact. This snug fit between the layers of filmand pallet cover creates the compartmentalizing. The pallet cover isthen pulled taut around the pallet in order to hold the pallet coverfirmly in place.

The end result is a pallet of perishables that is divided, where eachsubsequent layer of boxes is contained in its own separate atmosphere,therefore eliminating any cross contamination of harmful gasses orpathogens.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a pallet loaded with perishable goodsand equipped with the pallet cover film as well as the location of thefilm layers between boxes.

FIG. 2 is an isometric vie of FIG. 1 that has also been put into anexploded view.

FIG. 2A is a detailed isometric view of one layer of boxes containingperishable goods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a pallet containing perishable goods,whereas the goods present, for example, are an assortment of variousfruits and vegetables contained in cardboard boxes. During storage andtransport these perishable products release airborne pathogens,bacteria, molds and fungus. For example, products such as fruits andvegetables release a natural ripening gas, ethylene. Therefore, thecompartmentalizing of the pallet must be established in order to isolatelayers from contaminating other layers of the pallet with either ahigher respiring perishable or contaminated product.

The loading pallet 2 may suitably be a standard pallet, which can behandled by a fork-left truck. The compartmentalizing factor is comprisedof two parts: the layers of film 4 in between each layer of the boxes 1;and the pallet cover 3. There is also a layer of film 5 between thefirst layer of boxes and the standard pallet 2.

FIG. 2A shows an isometric drawing of an example of a box configuration6 that sits well on the standard pallet.

1. A packaging system for perishable goods comprising: a pallet aplurality of compartmentalized boxes stacked atop the pallet; a layer offilm placed between each of the plurality of compartmentalized boxes andbetween the pallet and the plurality of compartmentalized boxes; a coverfilm placed over the pallet and plurality of compartmentalized boxes.